AfricaNews editor in Accra, Ghana
Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has cautioned Africa countries not to glamorize coup makers and called for total condemnation of any such unconstitutional takeovers of democratic governments.
He said such military adventurism was detrimental to any country's development and growth, adding, "If a military officer wants to govern, he should resign his commission and seek for political power democratically.”
Obasanjo, who was speaking at the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) Golden Jubilee Panel Discussion in Accra, said "Any military coup is unacceptable and we must stop glamorizing their actions."
The event that was on the topic: "Turning out Quality Military Leaders in the 21st Century: A re-appraisal of leadership Training in the Ghana Armed Forces", formed part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the GMA, at which some eminent academicians and military officers urged the retooling of that institution to make its training relevant in contemporary times.
The GMA has trained over 3,000 military officers, with a significant number of them, coming from other African countries, some of whom have excelled not only in their military carriers but in governance in their respective countries, including Gen Obasanjo.
Obasanjo congratulated the GMA on that milestone, calling for a re-evaluation of the training needs of that institution and the overhauling of facilities to reflect changing trends in the defence arena.
He said the changing security environment necessitated that the military should not be rooted in the past, but to continually evolve with reviews to leadership training.
"The military has its ethics and principles but the challenges of the times demand that we also change because it will not auger well for any armed forces that is rooted in the past" said Gen Obasanjo.
He called for a pragmatic approach in training military leaders for the 21st century, insisting on the need to imbue in military officers the tenets of democracy and good governance.
Obasanjo said that all future programmes to train military leaders should be structured such that it could make an impact on the development nations.
Obasanjo, who was speaking at the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) Golden Jubilee Panel Discussion in Accra, said "Any military coup is unacceptable and we must stop glamorizing their actions."
The event that was on the topic: "Turning out Quality Military Leaders in the 21st Century: A re-appraisal of leadership Training in the Ghana Armed Forces", formed part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the GMA, at which some eminent academicians and military officers urged the retooling of that institution to make its training relevant in contemporary times.
The GMA has trained over 3,000 military officers, with a significant number of them, coming from other African countries, some of whom have excelled not only in their military carriers but in governance in their respective countries, including Gen Obasanjo.
Obasanjo congratulated the GMA on that milestone, calling for a re-evaluation of the training needs of that institution and the overhauling of facilities to reflect changing trends in the defence arena.
He said the changing security environment necessitated that the military should not be rooted in the past, but to continually evolve with reviews to leadership training.
"The military has its ethics and principles but the challenges of the times demand that we also change because it will not auger well for any armed forces that is rooted in the past" said Gen Obasanjo.
He called for a pragmatic approach in training military leaders for the 21st century, insisting on the need to imbue in military officers the tenets of democracy and good governance.
Obasanjo said that all future programmes to train military leaders should be structured such that it could make an impact on the development nations.
